A calendar of the national vacation days when businesses, schools and banks may close and most people get the day off in France...

The French for: bank holiday/public holiday/legal holiday is un jour férié.
French organisations and businesses close on public holidays.
Although some shopping centres and grocers open for part of the day, the majority of shops do not.
Police stations and hospitals do not close.

When a public holiday falls on a Thursday or Tuesday, it is common practice to "make the bridge" (faire le pont) by taking off the Friday or Monday so creating a very long weekend. When this happens you may find businesses running on short staff or smaller family run business closed for the full period.

Public Holidays 2018

1st January - New Year's Day

30th March - Good Friday (Alsace and Moselle only)

2nd April - Easter

1st May - Labour Day

8th May - Victory Day

10th May - Ascension Day

21st May - Whit Monday

14th July - National Day

15th August - Assumption Day

1st November - All Saints' Day

11th November - Armistice Day

25th December - Christmas Day

26th December - Saint Stephen's Day (Alsace and Moselle only)

Further Information

The Ministère du Travailhas information on the law as it affects employment and national public holidays.